Attempting NaNoWriMo for the first time this year, 2011. Wish me luck!
Dr. Tim’s Neurotic Rules of Ficly Life
[Disclaimer: This is not intended to be binding nor in any way an expectation of general members of Ficly, league members, family members or wearers of Member’s Only jackets]
1. Comment to Story posting ratio must exceed 5:1. Goal is 10:1. In other words, I write a story then find five others (at least) upon which to comment before writing another.
2. For every solo shot or sequel of my own material, I must write a sequel or prequel to the work of another author. If I’m going easy on myself, participating in a challenge also fulfills this requirement.
3. If someone comments on one of my stories, I go find one of theirs upon which to comment. It only seems fair, and I like to think it encourages commenting.
4. Awesomeness is the goal, always. Call me on it when I fail, please.
5. Clearly mark mature content and err on the side of caution.
6. Golden Rule remains in effect for all sequels, prequels, and comments.
Stories
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Clinging to New Need
Still half watching the game that would decide the fate of his fifty bucks, Brad answered his cell, “Hello, this is…” A breathy voice cut him off, “I need you.” Eyes wide, he checked the phone. Unlisted number, already hun...
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Pay the Universe No Heed
I slowly lift the rifle, lifeless in my hands but ready to bark at my command. For a moment I see my prey, a fleeting glimpse of too much flesh for so unsightly a man before my view goes white. I see nothing. All of existence is momentarily gone. Blink...
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One Way to Derail a Conversation
Sunset cast a rolling sea of smoke and smog in hellish oranges and yellows. Denton smiled, as he felt oddly at home. Errol disrupted the reverie, “Mind the cargo ship at 10:30. Looks like he aims to cut across.” The ship looked more like a ...
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Making Progress
“I’m just saying,” Errol hollered over the clangs and hisses, “It’s bloody inefficient.” Denton blinked from behind his goggles and adjusted his grip on the wheel. He made no response but gave a brass outlet valve a ...
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Getting What's Not
Trees tower above, swaying across a grim sky. They have names I don’t know and reach towards clouds that sail by unheeding. The life that resides within their branches chitters and twerps in defiance of the season. My face feels tight, pinched by...
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Nighttime Leakage and Other Embarrasments
Marjorie awoke to the tinny whinnie of a miniature unicorn prancing across the pillow. Billowing pink clouds the size of sandwiches wafted over from the other side of the bed. A host of doe-eyed satyrs danced and cavorted in the stallion’s glowin...
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Why Don't You Write Me?
Impatient with the steady clack of hoofbeats on the hard trail I nudged Emily to a trot. I knew the noise would draw Ernesto out to meet me. The look on his face, sauntering into the equitorial swelter told me I had no need to dismount. “No lette...
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End of an Era
The two men stared at each other. One word hung in the air between them, a big declaration occupying such a small space and making the gulf feel impassable. Around them the party continued, oblivious and innocuous. Dennis flinched first, breaking eye c...
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Intrusion to Solitude
“Thought I’d find you here.” I hear her. I refuse to really listen. My trajectory takes me right past her, but I refuse to alter course, to acknowledge her presence. I don’t want to admit the connection or any connection for tha...
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Holding the Wind (Tanka)
Your love is but need To hold you is to hold wind Beauty, force, and cold No returned embrace but sting Your need eternal I can’t hold your gale
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What He Would Want
I stood, though my gaze and my heart remained on the stone floor. Attempts to wipe the tears from my eyes only succeeded in smudging gray and black across my face, a sad raccoon in tattered armor. The night’s clouds parted allowing the moon smile...
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Travelling Companions
5.7 cm long. .9 cm across. Brass, steel, and powder. I love you. I imbue you with power and with luck. You, me, and your 19 friends we’ll take on the world. Tiny soulless pillar of strength, you don’t feel fear or even worry. To you the odd...
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Dramatic As She Is
The two children, a boy and a girl in the throes of adolescence, sat on the green grass and let their bare toes dangle into the gurgling creek. She smiled, “My sickness grows upon me.” “Janey,” he sighed, “Can we not talk ...
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Sunshine in the Darkness
Plinks of water echoed in the closed space. Mud and rocks challenged Devin’s groping fingers as they sought purchase. His breath felt ragged, as if he were choking, though he knew the cave held plenty of air. At a pause he gave a forceful whisper...
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Of Assistants and Magistrates
“It’s not like they really understand what you say,” came a chiding voice from over his shoulder. Doc turned to see Sarah’s grinning as she wiped her hands on a rag, all youthful mirth and self amusement. “You’re ent...
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Pickle, Brick, and Nuts
L5’s voice crackled over the Phantom’s intercom, “Coming in a little steep.” “Don’t get ’em in a bunch.” The engines’ roar nearly drowned out the jibe. “It’s just a practice run, Magic.&...
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Nothing Out There
Rae’s eyes drifted back across the gorge, at first vacant, then slowly overcome with a vague resolve, “Scan your memory banks and available data. What’s on the other side of the gorge, past the barrens?” After a brief delay the ...
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Do What You Do Best
Massive shoulders hunching, Randon leaned over his as of yet untouched tenth shot. The preacher leaned back to see around his erstwhile companion’s bulk, eyeing with morbid curiosity the stranger’s approach toward Sid. “Don’t wa...
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My mistake
The human Rae rode along in battered silence, coursing along every back alley, drainage ditch, and dirt path she could find. Her mechanical steed said little. The human Violet meanwhile took a direct route towards home, intent on reclaiming what normal...
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He, the Dawn
I have ushered. I have saved. I have released the sufferer, In extremity their will tested, by my caress, their journey ended into the hold of eternal night. Who has pain? Gone it is. After all is endured, A course run well, For my escape they pray A w...
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Mercy for Two Winters
The bar went quiet in expectation, which made Sid’s scraping attempts to scoot to a far corner all the more obvious and frankly a little sad. The preacher stood his ground, by the bar, next to Randon, uncomfortably between he and the stranger at ...
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Keep It Simple
Hirc shrugged and absently tapped the harmonica against one of his horns. He couldn’t help but glance at his friend’s massive ones, curved and majestic. Everything about the minotaur was massive, larger than life, from his hulking head to h...
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Questions Within, Questions Without
“Commander, are you alright?” the lilting voice came over the intercom, the now familiar Welsh accent adding that extra measure of concern. Miranda stretched her neck as much as she could to each side within the suit, an outward attempt to ...
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Acronyms and Explosions
“I don’t mean to be negative, but I don’t like our odds.” Heavy thuds echoed through the valley, overwhelming the assorted pops and clacks already in progress. “See, that was a JDAM. Isn’t that encouraging.” Th...
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Rambunctious Boy
At the back of the classroom, Emmitt froze. He hadn’t realized the desk was so unstable. He didn’t think the teacher was watching. He hadn’t figured the log cabin of pencils would fly so high if he and the desk fell over. He heard the...
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Who Needs a Sermon?
From the floor Sid let out a noise, somewhere between a moan and an inarticulate cursing of either his bad luck, Randon’s uncouth nature, or both. The preacher swallowed hard and sipped his seltzer water. Randon just threw back his fourth shot, e...
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Wondering About Love and Queens
He wasn’t sure why he loved the queen, but he was sure it had something to do with the fact he was in a royal world. Why not love a queen? On legs as unsteady as his resolve, Morris paced the ornate carpet, window to door, bed on one side, wardro...
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Damn the Socks!
In the dead of night the echoes of tribal drums resound within the souls of men. An off kilter, cheshire moon grins down as Herman feels this beat, the stirring in his loins from generations past. He rises, driven by primitive impulses, moving by force...
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Ugly Testimony
In a swirl of lust and dust Randon thumped down the saloon stairs. Shirt askew and pants undone, he made his unsteady way towards the bar. Eyes rolled, and knowing hands patted chuckling backs. He rasped, “I need more whiskey, and two more gir...
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Foundation Rocked
The girl’s head snapped back. A thin arc of blood leapt for the door. The stone made a dull ricochet to the right, tumbling to the ragged wall. Several heads nodded approval. Someone mumbled, “Fair toss…seen better.” Odd Walt li...
